Has anyone watched this: http://www.thegodmovie.com/
?
It has some pretty good interviews with Sam.
While the movie will do little to convert anyone, it was still 60 minutes of my life I enjoyed spending in front of my television.
I saw the movie last night and was amused, but a bit disappointed in it. I would like to see a more historical and scientific exploration of this topic. Brian Flemming obviously has too personal a bias to explore this topic with the rationality and objectivity needed to really argure the point. His attack on his former headmaster and his denial of the “Holy Spirit” were petty and a bit embarrassing. One case in point: when the said headmaster spoke of all the historical evidence proving the existence of Jesus, rather than continue his personal attack, Mr. Flemming should have cut away to research the fact that there is virtually NO evidence to this effect!
And why just Christianity? All world religions have expired. Religion has been the basis of forming societies since the dawn of man. It has been the source of theories for his existence and the cycles of nature. The most simple of moral codes that have come from these are universally sound. Religion is not inherently evil, it has simply been outgrown. We now have science and reason. We no longer need mythology.
[quote author=“ilsa63”]I saw the movie last night and was amused, but a bit disappointed in it. I would like to see a more historical and scientific exploration of this topic. Brian Flemming obviously has too personal a bias to explore this topic with the rationality and objectivity needed to really argure the point. His attack on his former headmaster and his denial of the “Holy Spirit” were petty and a bit embarrassing. One case in point: when the said headmaster spoke of all the historical evidence proving the existence of Jesus, rather than continue his personal attack, Mr. Flemming should have cut away to research the fact that there is virtually NO evidence to this effect!
I generally agree, but I thought Flemming did a great job of presenting some basic information in a very effective way. I would’ve rather he done something else rather than exorcise his personal demons for the last segment, but it seems to resonoate with others, so whatever . . .
[quote author=“ilsa63”]And why just Christianity? All world religions have expired. Religion has been the basis of forming societies since the dawn of man. It has been the source of theories for his existence and the cycles of nature. The most simple of moral codes that have come from these are universally sound. Religion is not inherently evil, it has simply been outgrown. We now have science and reason. We no longer need mythology.
Christianity is the poll leader by a long shot, particularly here in the West. Islam may be providing more reason to be targeted, but that’s a relatively new development for most of us here in the US, and there’s the problem that some Muslims have demonstrated they’re prone toward rather abruptly discontinuing the life functions of those who make too much of a protest against their franchise.
Besides, why not target one religion? It’s not like every book or documentary or essay (etc.) has to deal with any and all associated topics to be complete or adequate. Authors and directors and such have been known to select fairly specific topics from time to time. I’m not sure why people sometimes feel that’s a cause for protest (I have some guesses), but that does seem to be a common reaction.
The God Who Wasn’t There is now available on Netflix. The fun should start pretty soon! I encourage those of you who have seen it to leave a review on Netflix.
I just watched the movie and found it too short, but the extras on the dvd were enough to quench my thirst. Speaking of a thirst - for blood that is - the “Smashin’ of The Christ” part was proufoundly enlightening and ever sooooo hard to watch. I also found Sam’s commentaries illuminating, he seems to get to the point so dramatically and effortlessly. Also found Robert Price’s comment intriguing, he said something to the effect that he now goes to church services simply to watch as medival ritualism gets played out in real life. And it is true, for a non-theist the idea of watching the participants in a church service would be like watching ancient Greeks partaking in a Zeus revenge ritual, or seeing first hand as an Egyptian priest acted out his part in a ceremony to honour Ammon-Ra, or as an aboriginal elder danced the story of the creation of the eagle. Of course these latter festivals would be based more on myth and filled with awe, respect and passion, while the christian mass is hopelessly dull and mostly an admonishing based on fear and a sermon on supremacy. But the idea is very interesting - and it is like being transported back in time to watch medival adherents professing their bizarre beliefs in public. I guess it’s also quite unnerving.
For those who might be curious about what’s going on with this “Holy Spirit” stuff, I’d suggest attending a few Quaker meetings. That’s the American Society of Friends. I say a few because it’s possible that nothing will happen in a meeting. There’s no minister, no service, they sit and wait for the “Holy Spirit” to descend on them. Nobody speaks unless this happens. Sometimes it’s as though the congregation is set on fire, and this is fascinating to observe. I suspect that what happens is deeply psychological rather than supernatural, but something’s going on. New Agers have their own form of this phenomenon; channeling.
Some Christian denominations avoid the “Holy Spirit” like the plague, apparently on the theory that it’s impossible to tell whether it’s God or Satan at work. Some feel that the “Holy Spirit” was around in ancient times, but not now. The Evangelicals depend on it to fire up their congregations. The Pentecostals put it at the center of their beliefs. There’s a very good, secular book about the history of this phenomenon in America. “Fits, Trances and Visions,” by Ann Taves.
You must have some unusual Quakers where you come from! My Mom and her mother are/were Quakers and when I went to meeting with them there were no such shenannigans. The several times when people stood up to speak or sing it was very thoughtful and peaceful. There was plenty of anti-Vietnam war and pro-Civil Rights rhetoric at most of the meetings. (I’m dating myself here.) Mom lives too far away now, but from what she tells me, things haven’t changed much! :?
It seems that the Holy Spirit takes on a central role in the latter part of the movie, because as the narrator suggests, in his school of up-bringing one could deny the existence of god and still be forgiven, one could even deny the existence of Jesus and still be forgiven, but to deny the existence of the Holy Spirit was the surest path to eternal damnation. Holy Shit!
I just got around to watching the movie. I have not had a chance to check out the supplemental materials yet, but I have formed some opinions:
1. In the whole, it was pretty good. Amazing what digital technology has done for the productions values of indy projects.
2. I wish that it had gone into much more depth on several items, especially the Biblical scholarship. (Although I watched Dr. Robert Beckford’s “Who Wrote the Bible” a while back, which does address many of these points in greater detail)
3. I agree with Byron about the ending. . . As a reformed evangelical fundamentalist myself, I couldn’t help but wince at the “denial”. Not so much that it was done, but for the fact that I cannot share the movie with my family, because of that scene.
Basically, it is a great movie for people who have already “taken the red pill”, but for those who still fail to question the matrix, it might not be as effective.
Champ you are a riot sometimes, you really are!
